Eureka Police Department Warns of Scam Calls

The Eureka Police Department has received an increased number of complaints regarding scam calls to cell phones and land lines. It appears scammers are using spoofing techniques to make it appear a local number is calling, often tricking people into actually answering.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), “Current technology makes it easy for scammers to fake or “spoof” caller ID information, so the number you reported in your complaint probably isn’t real. Without more information, it’s difficult for the FTC and other law enforcement agencies to identify the actual caller.”

While scam calls are very annoying, there is little that can be done on a local level. Here is what you can do and where you can report unwanted calls:

 Make sure to sign up all of your phone numbers with the FTC Do Not Call Registry. It can take up to 31 days for your registration to become active.

5 comments

The do not call number is 888-382-1222. The recording says once you have registered your number you don’t have to do it again. You can put your number in and the recording well tell you if you have already registered that number. I have been registered since 2010 and don’t receive sales calls, although receive about four spoof calls a day.

Yes, it helps but it is not a cure all. What makes such fraud calls so awful it that, in the effort to avoid them, it is possible to miss the calls you do need. I received an automated call from my bank regarding fraudulent use of my credit card. I needed that call but almost did not answer because I did not recognize the number.

I have call blocking on my phone, and I get so many of these that it fills up within a week or less, and I have to start over, clear it and start a new list. The “do not call” registry is a sham. I’ve been on it for literally years, yet I get at least 5 robo calls a day. Legislation is needed to put a stop to it, but the administration is too busy giving tax breaks to the top .1%.